Recent Sightings - 6th August 2018
The following sightings were recorded today at High-High tide from the reserve at Castle Espie. A very wet start to the day but it improved as the morning went on and we gat a chance to see some of the wildlife at Castle Espie. There was a nice roost of egret and heron on the pier this morning as the tide reached its maximum reach, goldfinch were out in numbers on the meadow feeding on knapweed seed and the beautiful flash blue over the limestone lake gave us a brief but welcome glimpse of the kingfisher.
Estuary – visible from the Brent Hide and the Limekiln Observatory
Black-headed Gull 26, Little egret 20, Grey heron 4, Oystercatcher 89, Herring gull 1, Greylag goose 1, Lesser black-backed gull 2
Main lake – visible from Sensory garden and Visitor centre
Mallard 270, Tufted duck 7, Black-headed gull 15, Shoveler 1, Little Grebe 1, Lesser black-backed gull 1
Shingle bank – visible from Sensory garden, Wadermarsh and Visitor Centre
Black-headed gull 5, Moorhen 3
Wadermarsh – visible from Wadermarsh lookout and Brent Hide
Black-headed gull 71, Moorhen 12, Mallard 9, Coot 8, Black-tailed Godwit 1
Freshwater Lagoon – visible from Brent Hide and Crannóg
Black-tailed Godwit 8, Moorhen 4, Coot 3, Mallard 8, Teal 4, Grey heron 1
Saline Lagoon – visible from Limekiln observatory
Little Grebe 2
Limestone Lake
Mallard 4, Tufted duck 2, Little Grebe 1, kingfisher 1
Peninsula Field and Saltmarsh
Linnet 2
Brickworks
Goldfinch 10, Linnet 2
Woodland
Blackbird, Wren, Wood pigeon, Robin, Blue tit, Great tit, Coal tit, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Sparrowhawk
Butterflies on the reserve
Small White, Large White, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Peacock, Ringlet, Small Copper, Painted Lady, Dark Green Fritillary, Silver Y, Six-Spot Burnet Moth
